Anies plans to form new party after skipping 2024 Pilkada

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan expressed his intention to form a new organization or party after deciding not to pursue a candidacy in the 2024 Regional Head Elections (Pilkada).

"To harness the growing spirit of change, which is becoming a movement, building a mass organization or a new party may be the path we will take," he stated during a live stream on YouTube on Friday.

Anies, who is also a former presidential candidate, said the impetus to form a new party arose after observing the public's increasing demand for an equitable and constructive democratic system. He mentioned that he would establish a party to channel this community spirit, although he did not specify when the new party would be formed.

Earlier, there were rumors that Anies was interested in running in the Jakarta Head Election after losing in the 2024 Presidential Election. Several political parties, such as the Labor Party and the People's Conscience Party (Hanura), had expressed their support for his candidacy. The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) was also reportedly considering backing him in the Jakarta regional election.

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However, PDI-P withdrew this intention and announced Pramono Anung and Rano Karno as their candidates for Jakarta Governor and Deputy Governor. After facing obstacles in running for office in Jakarta, Anies was rumored to be considering a bid in the West Java Regional Election. However, he again decided not to pursue this option.

His spokesperson, Sahrin Hamid, stated that one of the considerations was the lack of strong demand from the people of West Java or political parties for him to run in the region.